As touched upon by the 5 areas of Emotional Intelligence, (Awareness, Empathy, Regulation, Motivation, Social Skills) as explained by Daniel Goleman, I believe the single most important quality a project manager possesses is a superior ability to communicate. Communication in all forms, while often underrated, is critical to this roe perhaps more than any other trait due to the need to express the goal efficiently, effectively, and often. It is estimated that 90% of what a successful project manager does at his job is done through communication among his superiors and staff, making it an absolutely critical skill.

A good Project manager should have the ability to not only communicate with the technical staff below him/her, but also be able to translate the ideas and results to more business oriented ‘C-suite’ officials inside the company. It is bridging this gap which makes the project manager position truly an art form and demands a uniquely talented individual. Included in this is the ability to effectively communicate with people of different characteristics. From sternly handling a rowdy and headstrong employee as well as having a much more empathetic approach to a more sensitive individual’s concerns, an effective project manager must be effective in every situation.

The project manager must also know what type of communication will most efficiently get the message across. On occasions, a simple email might suffice, while in others, a meeting must be organized for a more direct form of getting the point across. It is though this balance that will a person in the project management position differentiate themselves from every other employee and makes his/ her position possibly one of the most important positions in the company.

https://www.liquidplanner.com/blog/6-essential-skills-for-project managers/

Project Management Skills